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15-07-2024
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI: IAS Puja Khedkar controversy: Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer Puja Khedkar, who is in the eye of a storm over alleged misuse of power said, she is not authorized to comment on the controversies she and her family are involved in. The probationary assistant collector said she would give her submissions before the committee and follow the procedure.
“I am not authorized to say anything to the media. I will give my submissions before the committee. I will follow the procedure,” Khedkar told media.
Washim, Maharashtra: On Centre sets up panel to probe her candidature, IAS probationer Pooja Khedkar says, “I am not authorised to say anything to the media. I will give my submissions before the committee. I will follow the procedure.”
The 2023-batch IAS officer, on probation, courted controversy after pictures of an Audi car with a ‘Maharashtra government’ board and a red-blue beacon went viral on social media platforms. She reportedly raised demands for separate house and car privileges not available to junior officers and is also accused of illegally occupying the chamber of an additional collector.
Now, she faces more severe charges that raise questions about her selection process in the civil services. She allegedly misused benefits under the physical disabilities category and Other Backward Class (OBC) certificate.
Raising questions about Khedkar’s appointment, Vijay Kumbhar, a Pune-based RTI activist alleged that the trainee IAS officer did not fall under the OBC non-creamy layer, as she mentioned during the recruitment process. Kumbhar alleged that her father has assets worth ₹40 crore.
The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said that a committee chaired by a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary to the Government of India will verify the candidature claims.
The government said the committee would submit its report in two weeks.
Khedkar has now been shunted to Washim after the Pune District Collector, Suhas Diwse, requested that she be posted in another district and sought action against her.
Diwse reportedly wrote in a report to the General Administration Department that Khedkar demanded a separate cabin, car, and residential quarters to live in.
The Maharashtra government has transferred IAS probationer officer Pooja Khedkar from Pune to Washim following numerous complaints regarding misuse of power.
The transfer order, signed by S M Mahadik, assistant secretary of the Maharashtra government, cited administrative reasons for this decision. The action came after a letter from Pune Collector Dr Suhas Diwase to the Chief Secretary.
According to an official letter, “The 2023 batch IAS officer will serve the remaining period of her probation as supernumerary assistant collector in Washim district.”
Pooja Khedkar is an IAS trainee officer from the 2023 batch, having secured rank 821 (PWD-5) in the UPSC exams.
Pooja Khedkar courted controversy over allegedly demanding privileges not accorded to trainees over the past two months. Pooja Khedkar used a red-blue beacon light and a VIP number plate on her private Audi vehicle and installed a ‘Maharashtra government’ board on her car. A picture of the vehicle with the beacon light went viral, bringing the incident to light.
She also instructed the revenue assistant to provide a letterhead, visiting card, paperweight, nameplate, royal seal and intercom in her name. She also demanded a separate office chamber and dedicated staff despite not being entitled to any of these privileges as a probationer, as per reports.
